Pros and cons of being a lawyer
If you are thinking of becoming a lawyer but are not quite sure yet, then this article is for you. Read on to know the pros and cons of being a lawyer.
Pros of being a Lawyer
Law is one of the most respected and powerful professions and it is considered to be a very rewarding career. Below are some of the pros of being a Lawyer.
Greater opportunities
The world has gone through many major changes in the last few decades and the economic activities have also increased rapidly at the global level. Today, while the international trading system has evolved to a great extent, the Internet has made its way into almost every aspect of our lives. In such a situation, the need of legal professionals for the new disciplines is being felt strongly. Some of these new disciplines include Intellectual Property Law, International Trade Law, Cyber Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate, Human Rights Law, etc. Now the field of Law is not limited to Criminal or Civil matters only. These new disciplines provide Lawyers with an opportunity to think out of the box.
High Earning Potential
One of the many advantages of being a lawyer is having good financial standing. Since the fees charged by lawyers practicing independently is not fixed, he/she has the option to decide their own fee. Usually, the monetary benefit a lawyer gets depends on his/her working style. If you have good work experience and your success rate is good, then clients are ready to pay you more. However, in a law firm, corporate company or public sector job, your pay scale will be fixed.
Intellectual growth
Law education imparts the skills of reasoning and critical thinking and also develops the intellectual abilities of lawyers. When lawyers research and analyze new laws, they face many intellectual challenges. These challenges help them to understand the administrative system in detail. The intellectual development that occurs when dealing with such challenges helps lawyers to grow. Gradually they understand the intricacies of the Law and thus are able to represent large government organizations in the future. If we notice, legal experts have made a strong presence in our Parliament and many important positions in the country.
Flexible schedule
After graduating in law, you can pursue a career as an independent lawyer, as a public servant, as a junior lawyer for a large law firm or as a junior lawyer under a reputed lawyer in the city. The option chosen by you will decide your schedule. If you decide to do independent practice, you can take up cases based on your preferences. This way your schedule will be flexible and you will be able to set up your own routine. If you decide to become a public servant, work in a corporate company or become a junior lawyer in a large law firm, you will have a set schedule. If you decide to become a junior lawyer under a reputed lawyer in the city, you will have to spend your time in court in the morning and in the lawyer's chamber in the evening.
Job Stability and Demand
Legal services are always in demand, offering job stability in various sectors like corporate, government, private practice, and NGOs.
Cons of being a Lawyer
The career of a lawyer is full of challenges. Sometimes there is neither desired success nor monetary gains. Apart from this, work stress is also very high. Therefore, before choosing this profession, pay attention to those aspects, which can create hurdles for you. Here are some of the cons of being a lawyer:
Long working hours
The sitting hours of the court may be fixed, but the working hours of a lawyer are not fixed. Lawyers may have to work 9-10 hours a day in the early years of their career. A lawyer researches the case, drafts the answers to be filed, and makes the necessary preparations for the next hearing to bring justice to his clients. There is no fixed working time in this work profile. Long working hours also have an impact on daily lifestyle. Therefore, the entire responsibility of time management rests with a lawyer himself.
Work stress
Since a lawyer has many responsibilities, he also has to face stressful situations at times. Generally, the work profile of a lawyer includes meeting the demands of clients, arguing in the courtroom, researching the case, collecting information and evidence related to the case and taking care of billing related matters every month. Apart from this, they also need to be updated about the amendments in the Law, the insertion of new Laws and the old ones being removed.
No stability
There are many professions in which job stability is negligible and the profession of advocacy is no exception. Stability in this profession comes after a very long time and many Law graduates give up before reaching that level. For graduates who do not come from a legal background, working in court and earning a living is even more difficult. There is no guarantee when a Law graduate will get his/her first case and whether new cases will keep coming. These things have a direct effect on your financial condition. Moreover, not every lawyer gets a good fee from his clients. There is a lot of instability in this profession so it requires wide knowledge and exceptional personality to make a place here.
Working climate
Lawyers often have to work in very bad environment. If they are working as junior lawyer in a big law firm then most of the people there are quite ambitious. They don't have much time to teach or explain anything to new lawyers. You will be expected to work from day one and understand everything on your own. Even if you practice independently, you'll have to learn how the court works on your own. It is not easy to find a mentor who inspires or helps you move forward in this profession. In such a situation, the development of your career completely depends on you.
Requires lifelong study
Bringing justice to others by wearing a black coat sound tempting, but in reality, it is not that easy. Lawyers have to work hard to bring a case to its conclusion and at the same time have to get knowledge of new laws. Since the field of law is very dynamic, it is very important to keep yourself updated with the amendments. Lawyers have to constantly study to educate themselves about the latest changes. Advocacy is considered a profession that requires lifelong study. If you are unwilling to stay up-to-date with the latest judicial developments, you may become obsolete as a lawyer.